How important is an audio rack?

Has anyone considered damping your components with mastic material on the inside? There's a host of products out there. A good solid rack/table/ shelving unit is all you need. Stuff a cheap $200.00 TT with tone arm adjustments and it'll rival one costing 10 times as much. Given that TTs are far more sensitive in this regard, imagine what it'll do for the rest of your gear.

Always thought equipment on the floor looked high schoolish, even power amps .

IME, an audio rack is important for anti-vibration (within one's room) purposes. OTOH, gear can be placed onto butcher blocks of wood resting on the floor (like audio shows).

An audio system is a chain, made up of links and it is only strongest, as the weakest link.

Not cheap but the silent running audio craz rack is first rate electronics isolation. Wood with titanium core, suspended shelves

TBG, I live near a Still Points dealer. I may try the Still Points Rack.

Thanks

An experienced audio dealer provided me with a custom modded version rack based on the Naim Fraim design .

I was skeptical (at a minimum) before testing it. But after its insertion into a high-end system, I was unexpectedly gobsmacked at the large improvement in sound stage, further clarity (like a veil was lifted); and further elimination of the noise floor.

The testing effect first on the CDP was dramatic as "Stage 1"; and the further improvement effect on the amp was not-subtle as "Stage 2".

The pre-new audio rack kit sat on Mapleshade 4 inch maple bases with Mapleshade brass footers; all on a name brand moderately priced stand.

What floored me was that this "old" set-up was SMOKED by the new audio rack set-up without all the extra MS trappings.

Go figger.... but the prior MS kit is gonzo and I now own the rack. FWIW

I have made my own rack, machining stainless steel 4cm dia spikes + screws on top, copying a basso design.
Tried 4cm thick solid wood shelves for two years. It does affect the sound vs the floor or just a whatever stand providing better vibration isolation. Just switched the shelves to 3cm thick cnc machined acrylic. All i can say is wow, that is a much better "dampened" material than wood, or at least for my system. It became quiter and rounder. Racks do matter for sure.